Answered5 years ago
Do you need a TEFL or a Degree to teach English in Thailand?
Do you need a TEFL or Degree to teach English in Thailand?
Answer summary
In Thailand, the requirements for teaching English can vary depending on the type of school and the legal framework. Generally, a bachelor's degree is required to obtain a work permit, especially for government schools. While TEFL certification is strongly recommended and preferred by many schools, it is not legally mandated for all types of teaching positions. Some private schools may not require either a degree or TEFL certification, but teaching without a degree may lead to legal issues, such as fines or jail time. Thus, to work legally and to enhance job prospects, having both a degree and a TEFL certification is advisable.
49 repliesnewest first
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Jon *********
Taco Bell
Andy **********
Degree yes, TEFL optional but recommended.
Kool *******
The requirements now don't just include having a degree. Your degree and transcript must be certified as being ligitimate. Too many people were buying their degrees on KhaoSan road that now the degree, in order to be accepted by the Ministry of Education, must be certified.
Gene **********
Once Upon a Time you could be able to come and teach English anywhere in Thailand degree or no degree. Legal or illegal. But if you get caught teaching illegal there is some very harsh repercussions for that. One of them being five years in prison minimum 2000 Baht fine and up to a hundred thousand Baht fine. Best to do everything by the book. So when they take a look you're all nice and legal. So the answer to your question do you need a degree. By Ty Law they require a degree. Once upon a time a t certificate with work but not anymore.
Emile ********
Degree is required. Tesol or tefl not
Harvey *****
Need a degree for work permit
Nick *******
Yes. Next Question 😁
Paul **********
No any Filipino- Laotian or Cambodian can teach “England” here
Philip **********
Contact the school where you would like to work and ask them what requirements they prefer. That’s what I did.
Suq ********
OP@Philip *********
do you have TEFL or Degree ? Andy **********
@Joseph *******
Bet you won't show your work permit here as the department of about will NOT issue a work permit to you without a degree.Philip **********
@Joseph *******
No I asked the school what they preferred I had. They didn’t want TEFL or anything like that. A degree would help but they told me they wanted to train their employees on how they wanted their students to learn. Philip **********
@Joseph *******
No sorry Suq ********
OP@Philip *********
ok thank you would you recommend any schools 
Terary **********
Kind of a loaded question. Legally yes. Actually, not really.
Suq ********
OP@Terary *********
how could you go around it Andy **********
@Joseph *******
By not working legally.
David **********
Degree is an essential legal requirement , if it's not a teaching degree then TEFL is advised so that you actually know what you are doing.
Benjamin ******
>Do you need a TEFL
No. Some schools like seeing it though.
>or Degree
Yes, it needs to be a bachelors degree to teach English at a government school. Private, international, and universities do not have *LEGAL* degree requirements. See below for the requirements for a teaching license waiver from the Thai government to teach at government schools.
No. Some schools like seeing it though.
>or Degree
Yes, it needs to be a bachelors degree to teach English at a government school. Private, international, and universities do not have *LEGAL* degree requirements. See below for the requirements for a teaching license waiver from the Thai government to teach at government schools.
Shane **********
A degree (any) and TEFL certification required for the working visa
Curtis *******
@Shane *********
really? Both? I’d not heard that before todayShane **********
@Curtis ********************
yes, I am TEFL qualified and made enquires, I have only returned from Thailand last Friday.Shane **********
@Curtis ********************
I believe you can get a waiver, but not having TEFL or similar doesn’t go in your favour and will depend on who you’re dealing with, Thailand is very erratic when it comes to rules and regulations.Curtis *******
@Shane *********
I’m fairly certain a TEFL is not a legal requirement.
Andy **********
Long answer yes. Short answer no. Figure it out
Daniel ************
nope, you dont
Suq ********
OP@Daniel ***********
how can you go around it ? 
Ken ********
@Joseph *******
private schools I believe you dont need a degree 
Garrett ***********
Legally, yes the ministry of labor requires a bachelors degree to issue a work permit. Tons of people work illegally without one though, unfortunately.
Nick *******
@Garrett **********
You can still get a work permit without a bachelors degree thru the school, mainly up north.
Greg *********
If you capitalize the word "degree" you probably shouldn't be considering teaching English 🙄
Greg *********
Sorry Chris. I don't argue with the willfully ignorant. Adios, amigo! 😆
Chris *********
@Gregory ********
I would invoke The Medium Is The Message but it would be lost on your mental midget intellect there champGreg *********
You guessing, huh? 🤣 Stay in your lane, champ.
Chris *********
Let's see where we are now. Two of us made typos and you're still a wanquer. Nature finds its way
Chris *********
@Gregory ********
Oh dang yoo getted me! Ai wus faiking lieturrassy thu hole teighm.Chris *********
@Gregory ********
I guessing was a muscle-memory related typo, as often happens when creating informal text. And if your name is Johnson you shouldn't be acting like a D*ck. Chris *********
Oh look, you spotted another typo! You are really good at this. btw you seem awkwardly interested in my sex life. Is there some reason for that?
Bobby ********
Chris Michael. You seem inordinately upset by Facebook comments. I think you need to relax a little and not get so butthurt over harmless banter. 🤣
Chris *********
And how being an officious ašşwipe does nothing for your cred
Mick ********
@Chris ********
boom!Bobby ********
Chris Michael. *It's "I'm" guessing, not "I" guessing, and there should be an "it" after "guessing". See me after class for extra tuition. 🤣
Bobby ********
Chris Michael. A "laid" writer? Is that a writer who has been laid? 🤣🤣
Chris *********
@Bobby *******
As a laid writer I understand the difference between slack phone typing and a published piece, and how it's sometimes just not necessary to apply conventional standards 
Lisa ********************
For most agencies, yes you do
Pascal ********
no wonder why the level is so low
Michael ********
Lots of Teachers groups for Thailand that can answer you more specifically.
Basic answer is yes though.
Basic answer is yes though.
Suq ********
OP@Michael *******
can you recommend me the group Michael ********
@Joseph *******
I dont know any. I know there are lots use search functionActivity
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